The best programs for creating mind maps. IMind Map - real mind maps Mind map design ideas

Bekhterev S. Fragment from the book “Mind Management: Solving Business Problems Using Mind Maps”
Publishing house "Alpina Publishers"

Tony Buzan remembered Newton and Einstein, who were struggling from bad to bad at school, and asked important questions: “Do we know how to learn? Are we using our brains correctly? Having applied his method in practice, the author decided that it can be effectively used in any intellectual activity, and especially in business. After all, what is business if not the ability to quickly collect and analyze information from different sources (about competitors, customer needs, suppliers, the market, prices, trends, forecasts, etc.), make a quick and correct decision based on it, and then ensure its implementation? This is how the book “Use your head” was born. In it, Buzan popularly described the method of mind maps. He based it on the basic principles of how the human brain works, explained that we use our biological computer called the “brain” inefficiently, and proposed a way to improve this efficiency.

Mind maps have become successfully used in many areas of intellectual work. With the spread of computers, the first programs for building them in electronic form began to appear, which opened up additional opportunities for corporate use and solving business problems. The creative abilities of people who used this method began to unfold more strongly, which inevitably increased their effectiveness. Mind maps have become the main tool for completing tasks for many knowledge workers, including now in Russia.

Rules for constructing mind maps

It is most convenient to explain the rules for constructing mind maps using... the mind map itself (Fig. 1).

Rice. 1. Rules for constructing mind maps

Let us comment on the presented rules in more detail.

1. The main thing!

1.1. Start from the center. In the center is the most important idea, the purpose of building a mind map. Start with the main idea and you will have new ideas to complement it.

1.2. Read clockwise, starting from the upper right corner. Information is read in a circle, starting from the center of the card and continuing from the upper right corner and then clockwise. This rule is adopted for reading all mind maps. If you specify a different sequence, indicate the reading order with ordinal numbers.

1.3. Use different colors! The colors we choose always have more meaning than they might seem. We perceive color instantly, but it takes time to perceive text. Different colors can be perceived differently and have different meanings in different cultures and to different people. This is discussed in more detail below.

1.4. Always experiment! During his practice, the author has seen many mind maps. And each of these cards had its own unique individual style. Since each person’s thinking is unique, the map as a result of thinking also turns out to be unique and inimitable. Don't be afraid to experiment, try, search and find the best ways to present information that are most suitable for you.

2. Central image

One of the key concepts in creating mind maps, without which it is impossible to create key associations from which the mind map will be built. The central image should be the most striking object for you, because it will be your focus, the main purpose of creating a mind map. To do this, set the task as clearly as possible, use the most “catchy” colors and designs that inspire you at the moment when creating a central image.

3. Design it!

Draw! If you are in doubt whether you should draw or not, then the choice is obvious - draw! A visual image is remembered for a long time, perceived with maximum speed, and forms a huge number of associations. Our brain is designed in such a way that we almost instantly form a visual association for any word. Draw this first association. As a rule, then to perceive information from a mind map, you will not even need to read what is written there - you will just have to look at the pictures, and the necessary information will immediately pop up in your head.

Color it! Each color has its own meaning, and often it is very individual for each person. The meaning of a particular color for an individual depends on factors such as personal preferences, previous experience, and cultural influences. In different cultures, the same color can have completely different meanings. For example, in Russia the color of mourning is considered black, and in Japan it is white. Depending on the meaning attached to color, it can significantly simplify and speed up the perception of information. It takes a moment to understand the prohibitive color of a traffic light. In the same way, you can read information from a mind map if you understand the meanings of the colors used in it. You can come up with your own notations or use the author’s interpretation below.

Use keywords! There should be few of them so that they do not add up to a complete sentence. As you will see below, information presented in the form of keywords visually linked to each other makes the brain work as quickly as possible. When you read only keywords, you get a sense of incompleteness, which causes many new associations that continue the mind map.

If you are creating a map by hand, use block letters, as handwritten text takes much longer to read than printed text.

Refer all new associations that appear to further branches of the map or write them in comments around map objects (topics), which, when written on paper, are conveniently done on stickers.

Connect your thoughts! The use of connecting branches helps our brain structure information at maximum speed and create a holistic image.

Use no more than 7±2 branches from each object, and better - no more than 5-7, since even a tired person can easily perceive such a map.

Color	Meaning	Speed ​​of perception
Red color	The most quickly perceived color. Maximum focus. Informs about dangers, problems that may arise if you do not pay attention to it
Blue color	Strict, business color. Sets up for efficient long-term work. Well received by most people
Green color	The color of freedom. Relaxing, calming color. Positively perceived by most people. But its meaning strongly depends on the shades (“energetic emerald” of the eyes or “melancholy green” in Soviet-type hospitals)
Yellow	The color of energy, the color of leadership. A very annoying color that you can't help but notice.
Brown color	The color of the earth, the warmest color. The color of reliability, strength, stability, confidence
Orange color	Very bright, provocative color. The color of enthusiasm, innovation, excitement, energy, dynamics. Excellent attention-grabbing
Blue	The color of tenderness, the color of romance. Great background color. In English there is no separate word for this color (blue is understood as both blue and cyan). In Russia, this color usually means freedom of movement: to the sea, to the sky, to a dream.
Black color	Strict, limiting color. Ideal for writing text, creating borders

Show connections of the main topic using a line, thickening it at the base and gradually narrowing it at the subordinate topic.

If topics from neighboring branches are connected to each other, connect them with arrows.

Use grouping to indicate groups of the same meaning.

Sometimes you will feel that you need to add more, for example, two branches, but you will not be able to formulate their name. In this case, it is recommended to draw branches and leave them empty. At this point, you will have an unfinished action and your brain will become hypermotivated to fill out these branches and come up with the necessary ideas.

Try building your first mind map by completing the first lesson.

When the technology of mind maps was created, convenient personal computers were not yet in mass use, and the first maps were built manually using ordinary paper, colored pencils and felt-tip pens.

The author of this book has more than once met people who generally do not recognize the creation of mind maps using computer programs and build all their maps on paper. And the author himself, although the laptop has long become part of his body, sometimes also gladly rolls up his sleeves, takes large sheets of paper, pencils, felt-tip pens, stickers, tape and begins to draw.

Because this method has its wonderful advantages (as well as disadvantages).

Drawing mind maps are characterized by a reformulated Murphy's law: “A mind map always takes up exactly as much space as it is given, and a little more.” The author has more than once been convinced of the validity of this law when sheets of A1 and even A0 format were completely filled out.

Therefore you will need:

• clean white sheets, preferably at least A3 format. The A4 format may simply not be enough for the riot of your associations;
• colored felt-tip pens, or better yet, colored pencils, as they can be erased with an eraser, so you can make adjustments and see your train of thought. The more colors the better;
• eraser;
• stickers, preferably in different colors and sizes;
• scotch. If one sheet of paper is not enough for you, you can attach another one to it.

It is best to place the sheet horizontally. If the sheet is large, you can immediately attach it to the wall with tape.

Below is an example of constructing a “Great summer vacation with the whole family” mind map, where you can see how such an urgent problem was solved.

Alexey Bashkeev, Head of Analytics, Incore Media

After I became acquainted with the mind mapping method during the training, I began to apply it in all areas of my life. Below is an example of a map our family drew to solve such an important task as a great summer vacation for the whole family.

First we drew the central image. Then each of us wrote down 10 vacation options on stickers, one for each sticker. After that, we placed them on the map, connected them with each other, and the result shown below was obtained (see Fig. 2).

Surprisingly, all the options received seem quite obvious, but it is easier to make a decision when you see them arranged in a clear structure.

We hung this map in the kitchen and over the summer we tried the best of the options listed. Now we have compiled a similar mind map for winter holidays!

Rice. 1.2. Results of the family brainstorming session “Great summer vacation for the whole family?”

As you'll notice, hand-drawn mind maps rely heavily on drawings. This greatly simplifies the memorization and perception of information, since the drawings are remembered for a long time.

Often at trainings we are told: “But we don’t know how to draw!” We have to constantly prove that this is not true. What have you done before in your life: drew a person or wrote the first number? Did you color the sun or write a word? Fortunately, learning to draw is much easier than learning to write. We can draw! It’s just that over time we stop using this great opportunity to record information. Let's remember and learn again!

You will have a visual association for each word almost immediately. Draw exactly this association! Because then, remembering a visual symbol, your consciousness will easily retrieve the word associated with it from the unconscious.

Mind maps have gained popularity in many developed countries. But why does this technology work this way? Why is this way of presenting information so effective? What principles of the human brain is this technology based on? It is based on two principles of the human brain.

Principle one. Left- and right-hemisphere thinking

Mind map technology was originally based on the principle that the right hemisphere perceives information according to different laws than the left. The difference in the functioning of the hemispheres is shown in Fig. 3.

At one time, Tony Buzan rightly noted that most information is presented in the form of numbers and letters, convenient for perception by the left hemisphere (just remember the linear representation of information in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, Lotus Notes - office applications with which most office employees work) .

Rice. 3. Hemispheres of the brain and the “division” of labor between them 1

The mind mapping method allows you to present information in such a way that it can be perceived by both the left and right hemispheres at the same time.

Thanks to the use of colors, patterns and spatial connections, any information begins to be perceived, analyzed and remembered much faster and more effectively than with its usual linear representation in the form of numbers and letters. Thus, humanity has the opportunity to make maximum use of the huge reserves of the right hemisphere.

Do we use the creative capabilities of the right hemisphere in our everyday life? Yes. Of course yes. And all without exception.

Imagine the following situation. You are trying to explain to your interlocutor something quite complex or information-intensive (the concept of a new project, launching a product on the market, the strategy of a new direction, the structure of a new book or article, the current state of business processes, etc.), and this cannot be done in any way. words, and next to you is a pen and a sheet of paper. What will you do? 100% of those to whom the author asked this question answered unequivocally: “Let’s start drawing.” And often without even imagining what will be drawn in the end, we just start drawing. Why? Because in many situations, this step allows you to find a common language much faster and convey the necessary thoughts. For example, such an explanation often results in diagrams like the one shown in Fig. 4.

Or here’s another question: what do you do when you’re talking on the phone about some unpleasant or difficult topic, and next to you is the same pen with a sheet of paper? Most answer: “Well, we’re drawing something.” But why? After all, the one with whom we are talking does not see us. The answer is simple. We draw in order to connect the creative zones of the right hemisphere of the brain to thinking through the best answer options and thereby use a larger volume of the cerebral cortex, which will increase the number of possible answer options and increase their originality.

How many exact postal addresses can you remember where you have ever been, for example, st. Profsoyuznaya, 33, apt. 147? None of the participants in our trainings could name more than 10 addresses. And how many addresses can you visually remember where you have ever been in order to get there if necessary (for example, here behind the temple turn left, then at the fork to the right and in the courtyard there is a third entrance, a polished black door)? The number of such addresses is impossible to count, and as soon as most people find themselves in a place where they have already been, they will immediately remember how and where to get out of there. This example also shows how the left hemisphere (physical memory of addresses) and the right hemisphere (spatial memory) work.

There are a huge number of examples around us in which the cerebral cortex of our right hemisphere works.

Rice. 4. A typical diagram obtained during spontaneous drawing to explain complex information-intensive issues 1

1. Traffic light

This is perhaps one of the most striking examples of visualization. Do you know why red was chosen as a prohibitive color? Because our brain perceives it faster than any other. And the green color is perceived longer than other colors, which is very important before crossing the road: you will have time to think carefully and look around. That is why we relax when we are in nature among green trees. Green color “slows down” our attention. A modern innovation in traffic lights is the use of special signs indicating that you need to walk or stand.

By the way, imagine if the traffic lights instead of colors had simple inscriptions:

And all these inscriptions would light up in one color, for example blue. How would you navigate? The majority answered this question in order: the top signal is on - stop, the bottom light is on - go. You see, even here we engage the faster right hemisphere.

2.Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook is the favorite email organizer for many users, including due to its advanced visualization capabilities, which are significantly less in its closest competitors: Lotus Notes, The Bat, Thunderbird, etc.

For example, a company employee only needs a few seconds of viewing the consolidated calendars of consultants to understand who is doing what and what free zones there are for making appointments. It’s enough to know that according to the corporate standard for using Outlook, off-site meetings are colored orange, tightly scheduled meetings within the office are blue, and budgeted tasks that do not have a strict start and finish are colored in green. Knowing this, you can look at Fig. 5, very quickly understand that one employee has three off-site meetings scheduled for November 11, and he will only be in the office at 17.00, but at this time he already has an internal meeting scheduled with the sales department. You can also quickly understand that his colleague has two budgeted tasks planned, and he can safely schedule a consultation or training for November 11th.

Rice. 5. Visualization in Outlook 2007 Calendar

Rice. 6. Plain non-rendered Outlook 2007 Calendar

Looking at this consolidated calendar, you can quickly understand that it is unlikely that it will be possible to gather all the consultants together on November 11 and that you need to look for another day for this.

Look at fig. 6. Will you be able to come to the same conclusions with the same speed if you analyze a non-visualized Calendar?

3. Cockpit

Pilots experience a huge information load. In the cockpit there is a huge number of different instruments, the indicators of which must be monitored. Additional stress is caused by the cost of any mistake, because pilots are responsible not only for their own lives.

Correct visualization of the control panel is key: the pilot must quickly analyze all incoming information (Fig. 7).

Note that modern cockpits do not have as many monotonous sensors as older models that rely primarily on the analytical left brain. In modern cockpits, color codes for key controls and instruments are displayed on LCD monitors; electronic display systems and an integrated information alarm system are used to the maximum, which display flight and navigation information on the status of the power plant and general aircraft systems on the displays. Previously, all this had to be imagined using a variety of monotonous dark instruments, as in the figure above (information taken from the website www.ifc.com)!

Rice. 7. Cockpit of the obsolete TU-154 (top) and modern IL-96 (bottom)

4. Map of the general battle

Imagine this picture: at army headquarters, generals stand at a wall on which information about all armies is written only using numbers and letters: coordinates and descriptions (number of units, condition) of tank, air force, infantry, artillery, support units, such the same information about the enemy according to intelligence data, the latest information about the allied forces. No map, no spatial arrangement - just numbers of coordinates and letters of description. It's hard to imagine, isn't it?

It is not difficult to guess how valuable every second is in order to have time to analyze all the information, develop a strategy and make a final decision on the method of attack.

It is not surprising that the military has been using diagrams, maps, symbols of divisions, detachments and armies, their own and others, since ancient times. Otherwise, it would be impossible to process huge regularly received flows of information with coordinates, new information about losses, retreats and attacks, and even more so to quickly coordinate actions with each other (Fig. 8).

Rice. 8. Map of the general battle. Strategy development by army headquarters

Principle two. Associative thinking

Have you ever wondered what the word “consider” means? We often call someone smart, but what does that mean? What is the deep essence of this amazing Russian word?

A smart person is a person who is able to build correct images in his head based on incoming information, that is, identical to the images of the author of information, storyteller, etc. (at a lecture, while reading a book, article, letter, conducting business negotiations, etc.). And vice versa, we call a person incompetent, to put it mildly (or dull, to put it mildly), if he does not understand information the way we would like, or does not understand it at all (although the problem may be in the inconvenient format of the information itself).

I remember an anecdote about teachers of higher mathematics and experimental physics.

Colleague, how can you be in a good mood after this group? There are only stupid people there!

Really? And in my opinion, they are very capable, even brilliant students. Especially when you stop telling them and start showing them...

Any incoming information must first form an image in our head. Once we understand something, we form an image in our head and remember the information much easier and for a much longer period. Information that has not been converted into images is “empty” information that has no meaning and is easily forgotten (remember cramming at school).

Alexander Romanovich Luria, a famous Soviet psychologist and physiologist, noted that “the basis of verbal memory is always the process of recoding the reported material, associated with the process of abstraction from unimportant details and generalization of the central points of information...”

Rice. 9. How verbal information is perceived1

Natalya Petrovna Bekhtereva, an outstanding Russian scientist, called the process of understanding information schemes: “Schemes can be different... We call a person talented or even brilliant if such a scheme, idea, concept turns out to be correct... when disparate facts fit into a coherent system and complex It turns out that it is possible to present events simply, present them in the form of a diagram, and even predict something based on it.” In order to understand how images are formed in our heads, it is enough to see the features of storing information in our brain. To do this, let's look at an enlarged picture of the structure of our brain (Fig. 10).

As you know, our brain consists of approximately 1,000,000,000,000 cells called neurons. Their number does not increase throughout life, but can decrease under the influence of severe stress, alcohol intoxication, trauma and other unfavorable factors. But if the number of neurons does not increase from the moment a person is born, then where is all the incoming information stored and processed?

Rice. 10. Illustration showing the interconnections of neurons. The drawing is simplified a thousand times and corresponds to a microscopic part of brain tissue

Each neuron is connected to others by a huge number of branch connections that are formed throughout a person’s life. The more intense a person’s information life, the greater the number of such connections between brain cells. This amount changes throughout a person's life. Moreover, the more intense his intellectual life, the more such connections are created, the more developed the person’s brain and, accordingly, the person himself.

All information that is distributed in the brain is associatively transmitted between neurons at the speed of electric current, and the greater the number of such connections, the more capable the brain is of perceiving new information.

When we take in information, whether it's reading a book or listening to a lecture, all the many neural connections in our brain are activated to help us form an image. Once we form an image, we understand the information. It is difficult for us to read a book or perceive someone's story if we cannot quickly build images based on the information we receive. Or we may simply not have enough previous experience and training (that is, the number of connections between neurons) to understand the new information. It is extremely difficult to understand something at a seminar on financial management (no matter how talented the teacher is) if you do not know how to count, multiply, divide...

PERCEPTION AND MEMORIZATION THROUGH IMAGERY REPRESENTATIONS

Remember how at school we learned by heart many words, sentences and definitions, without ever understanding their meaning. What is verbal memory and does it exist at all? Here is the definition of verbal memory given by psychologist Luria (to whose work Tony Buzan especially refers): “When receiving verbal information, a person remembers the words least of all, trying to retain the textual impression that has reached him.”

To demonstrate what verbal memory is, try memorizing the following 10 words:

night-forest-house-window-cat-table-pie-ringing-needle-fire.

It's difficult, isn't it? Let's complicate the task. Now try to remember the whole story.

“At night in the forest, a cat climbed into the house through the window, jumped on the table, ate the pie, but broke the plate, which caused a ringing sound. He felt that the fragment stuck into his paw like a needle, and he felt pain in his paw, as if from fire.”

Oddly enough, there were more words, and it became easier to remember them. Why? Because we have translated the language of words into the language of images and impressions, which is more understandable to our brain and much easier to perceive.

Now it becomes clear why we cannot think linearly, especially in unclear situations. Our thoughts “jump” from one to another, and at the next moment in time, completely unexpectedly for us, we are already thinking about something else.

For example, when we think about something, many associations related to this topic appear in our minds. We start thinking about how to spend the New Year, and a whole fountain of ideas immediately appears in our heads: “Buy more cognac! Organize more competitions! Think about where to store drunks. How to get everyone to the place? Who to choose as the presenter? How can you keep it all in your head?!” - and we automatically reach for a pen and paper and begin to write everything down in order to somehow structure everything and not lose valuable thoughts.

The principle of associative thinking is that our brain, due to its structure, works with information associatively, and not linearly. At the same time, images are created in our heads, thanks to which we understand the information.

Based on this principle, Tony Buzan proposed recording information not linearly, as is customary in most cases, but associatively (radiantly), connecting thoughts with each other in space, rightly suggesting that this form would be the most convenient for perception, since the brain needs will carry out a minimum of work to create an image, that is, understanding the information.

Information presented in the form of mind maps is perceived faster, more efficiently, and is remembered faster and for a longer period, as this corresponds to the natural associative nature of our thinking. It's just the way our brains work.

So, according to the two principles stated above, any information is perceived by us in the form of images that are formed on the basis of the information received. And the more volume of the cerebral cortex we use when perceiving and analyzing information, the faster we can build the desired image, that is, understand the information.

Mind management technologies are built on these features of the brain.

Mind management algorithm

A mind map is one of the best ways to increase the efficiency of intellectual work, that is, the creation of intellectual products. What is an intellectual product?

Intellectual products include writing texts, implementing any projects, training, analysis, goal setting for the quarter, year, life, personal development, solving problems and non-standard tasks, strategic planning, etc. and so on. In essence, all knowledge workers are engaged in the creation of intellectual products. What is the most common problem?

During our consulting practice, we have repeatedly observed how the natural laws of intellectual work are violated, when they first do something, come up with ideas while doing it, and after they do it, they exclaim: “But we forgot the most important thing!”

The creation of any intellectual product (writing a book, preparing a presentation, developing a strategy, and even planning and realizing a dream) most effectively occurs in five stages, each of which has its own clear goal, which, most likely, you know at least on an intuitive level. I called these stages the mind management algorithm.

1. Birth of an idea

What time do you usually have brilliant work-related ideas? Most people we ask this question usually answer something like: “In the shower. On holiday. During sleep". Sounds familiar, doesn't it? And for some reason the best ideas related to your personal life come at work.

The birth of an idea is perhaps the most mysterious stage. You never know when it will emerge from the depths of the unconscious. When this moment comes, it seems that the brilliant insight will remain with us forever and we will never forget it... But no. As soon as the phone suddenly rings or the dog barks, a painful, painfully familiar thought appears: “Oh, what was this brilliant thing I was thinking about?!” About something bold and new...” And it’s not always possible to remember, right?

Take care of your ideas, remember the basic principle of time management (the principle of materialization) - write it down! Don't foolishly waste brilliant ideas that can change your life. The first advice that Vladimir Mayakovsky gave to aspiring writers was to buy a notebook, always have it with you and write down all observations, which can then form the basis of the plot.

2. Brainstorming - creating chaos for the mind map

So, when the idea is successfully caught, we are faced with the task of developing an intellectual product. For example, write an article on a new topic. What do most people do in this case? Naturally! Take a blank sheet of paper or open Word and start writing. Or rather, try to write. Since you constantly have to stop, look for the right thoughts in the associative chaos and drive away the unnecessary ones (although how useful they would be in the next section!). Here it is, the associative nature of thinking!

It turns out that we are trying to do two jobs at the same time: write a specific part of the text and continue to think about others, which contradicts the associative nature of our thinking and, naturally, reduces the efficiency of work. We need to concentrate on one task, and at the moment when useful thoughts swarm in our minds, we need to catch them all as quickly as possible, because it is unknown when they will appear next time.

The main task at this stage is to conduct a brainstorming session, the purpose of which is to write down all the associative ideas that have arisen related to the intellectual product being created. If you have a chaos of useful and interesting thoughts, you yourself can determine the moment when you need to start organizing them.

3. Mind Map Creation / Analysis

It is impossible to bring order to a completely empty room, just as it is impossible to create the structure of an intellectual product without having in front of you the chaos of thoughts associated with it. This is proven by the very practical method of limited chaos proposed by Gleb Arkhangelsky in the book “Time Drive”.

At the structuring stage, the main goal is to understand the logic, that is, to form an image of an intellectual product, which is achieved through structuring, for example in the form of a mind map. Do you know the pleasant feeling when you suddenly suddenly understand how to respond to an unpleasant letter you received a few days ago, or when you understand where you want to go on vacation? This happens when the brain has processed the information received and offered you the most suitable solution.

The same thing, only much faster, happens when you structure (best in the form of a mind map) the results of a brainstorming session, for example, on writing an article. At one point, there is an understanding of what this article will be like, that is, its image is formed. You clearly see the structure, you know where to write what and what data and pictures to place, you understand what information the reader will take from the article and how he will generally perceive it.

At the moment of achieving an understanding of the formation of the image of the future intellectual product, you can move on to action.

4. Action

If you have successfully completed the first three stages, achieving the goal of each of them, then the process of implementing your plan will proceed with maximum efficiency. The chaos of thoughts, ordered into a structure, will no longer bother you, and you will be able to concentrate all your attention on achieving your goal. And if another necessary thought comes to you that was missed during the brainstorming stage, then you can easily fit it into your structure. Mind maps allow you to do this with maximum speed.

At the action stage, the main goal is to implement your plans according to the structure you created.

5. Result

The natural consequence of achieving the goals of the first four stages is obtaining results. It doesn’t always meet our expectations at the first stage, but that’s the beauty of smart products: if you follow the natural logic of their creation, that is, the mind management algorithm, the result usually exceeds all expectations.

Let's see how the mind management algorithm was used to solve such a pressing problem for many Russian managers as the restoration of vital resources.

Natalya Sosnovskaya, project manager of one of the large telecommunications companies

The understanding that life resources must be managed and forced to rest properly has, of course, always been there. “You need to rest”, “you look bad” - you can often hear from colleagues and friends. But for some reason, no one tells how to properly restore vital energy, effectively spending the time allotted for rest. The situation became clearer during the time management training, when we came to the topic of managing life resources, and everything turned out to be very simple: for effective recovery energy, you need to force yourself to rest properly, restoring physical, emotional and intellectual strength. The regularity of recovery should occur in accordance with the rhythms of a person’s life - daily, weekly and annually. Moreover, if you do not recuperate effectively today, you can greatly lose in your work efficiency tomorrow. The same is true for weekly and annual holidays. It would seem that everything is clear, but there is no answer to the question: what exactly needs to be done to restore your strength and acquire new ones? There is an idea of ​​the problem. There is motivation to solve it. There is no solution.

And here came the answer from the business coach: “You should come up with activities that restore your physical, emotional and intellectual resources for yourself. What works for one person may not work for another.”

A brainstorming session was conducted to identify such activities. The group was divided into three subgroups, each of which had to find the maximum number of ways to restore vital resources on a daily, weekly and annual basis.

Each participant was given 10 stickers, on each of which they had to write one way to restore vital resources. After everyone completed the task, it was possible to structure the ideas received and analyze the information.

Taking sheets of A1 format, the participants in their subgroups began to combine the thoughts they had received. A sticker with an idea was attached to a similar area if it was already marked on a sheet of flipchart, and if it was not, then a new area was created (Fig. 11).

We saw before us many different ways to restore resources every year, from which each one chose the one that suited him.

After we had an overview of possible ways to restore vital resources and realized that this, too, can and should be planned, all that remains is to proceed to the most difficult thing - to force ourselves to do something.

Thanks to the fact that the bright mind maps constantly attract attention, I had to regularly ask myself the question “What am I doing with what is written there?” And the more often I asked myself this question, the more often I forced myself to act! And little by little the result began to appear...

Rice. 11. Results of grouping the results of the brainstorming session “Annual restoration of vital resources”

As soon as I began to consciously plan for the restoration of my vital resources, I noticed an interesting feature: my body allocates much more energy to perform the assigned tasks if I know that they will be followed by a guaranteed, pre-planned restoration of energy. And the more interesting the vacation is planned, the more energy is released, the more tasks can be completed!

Rice. 12. Mind map for daily resource recovery

Definition of mind management

So, our intellectual activity is subject to the following clear working principles.

• We cannot operate with more than 7±2 objects of information at the same time.
• Any thought can be immediately lost and supplanted by another, not always more important and priority thought.
• We underutilize our brain's ability to perceive grouped and related information that contains semantic colors, pictures, patterns, and typical connections.
• Information is perceived the better, the larger the volume of the cerebral cortex is connected to its perception.
• Our brain thinks associatively, building connections of thoughts and a logical structure from the information received (based on our and only our logic or experience), after which we form an understanding of the information, that is, an image appears.
• In order to quickly achieve the result of a planned intellectual product, you must first collect all your thoughts, structure them in order to understand what exactly needs to be done to achieve the result.

The ability to properly structure information is becoming a necessary skill in the modern world, since the average office employee now receives 90% of information in electronic form, the amount of which doubles every few years.

And since the majority of electronic information is received and processed through such common office programs as Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point, Lotus Notes, etc., which mainly involve the perception of the left (analytical) hemisphere, then for most modern office workers The picture shown in Fig. is typical. 13.

Rice. 13. Linear information flows attacking an office employee

In the absence of the necessary structuring skills, information received in electronic form is one of the main time sinks, and the role of the ability of a modern employee to quickly process electronic information, analyze it and make decisions based on it is one of the keys in increasing the efficiency of his work.

You can acquire such skills and learn to use modern technologies for using the enormous resources of our brain with the help of discoveries in the field of mind management (Fig. 14).

Mind management is a technology for presenting information flows in a form that requires minimal time and psychophysiological resources for search, analysis and understanding

Rice. 14. Mind management. Information flow management

At one of the trainings in a consulting company, at the beginning of the financial crisis, a very pressing problem was voiced - how to reduce costs during the crisis?

During a 10-minute brainstorming session and subsequent structuring of the ideas received, a visual mind map with a lot of interesting workable options was obtained (Fig. 15).

We analyzed each of the received options for adequacy, canceling some, accepting others and planning the next actions for the third. According to the client's feedback, after two months, with the help of specific actions based on the created mind map, they managed to reduce costs by more than 20% - here is the result.

A frighteningly large number of ideas pop into our heads when we begin to think about such large-scale tasks and problems as “reducing costs.” If you grab the first ideas you come across and start taking action, you are unlikely to achieve the desired result. But if you strictly follow the stages of the mind management algorithm and form an image of the problem, the result will not be long in coming!

Rice. 15. Mind map “How to reduce costs in times of crisis”
(Click on the picture to enlarge)

Buzan, T. and B., Superthinking. Minsk: Potpourri, 2003. - P. 11.

Quote by: Buzan T. and B. Superthinking. Minsk: Potpourri, 2003. - P. 31.

Quote by: Luria A.R. Lectures on general psychology. St. Petersburg: Peter, 2007. - P. 211.

Arkhangelsky G. Time drive: How to have time to live and work. M.: Mann, Ivanov and Ferber, 2005.

Hello everyone guys!

I am immediately publishing the second part of the article about creating mind maps.

But last time we considered an easy option using an online service. This time, the attack is guarded by a program for creating intelligence maps, or rather 2 programs. Let's look at the 2 most popular solutions in this area.

Why do we need intelligence maps and what is it anyway? I wrote in. If you need these answers, then click on the previous link and master it. And we will immediately jump into the water and start looking at programs.

Xmind program

The program is not bad. The main advantage is that it is free. We can safely use the standard functionality without paying a penny. There is also a PRO version of the program, in which more advanced functions are available:

1. Export to all major formats
2. Adding a Brainstorming Module
3. Adding business tools and others.

As regular users, we can do without this. Export will be enough for us in the form of a simple picture to give a graphic image to our visitors or friends.

Functionality that is not available to us will be marked with Pro.

You can safely download the program from the official website at this link by clicking the button to download.

We install the program on the computer, like all other software. The procedure is standard. Next, launch Xmind through the shortcut, which is added to the desktop by default.

The first thing we see after launch is the program window with the ability to immediately create a new project in the form of an empty template, that is, create a mind map from scratch, or choose one of the ready-made templates with individual design.

Since we need to understand the principle of creating mind maps, we choose a blank template to start from scratch. Having mastered the basic functions, you will be able to edit previously provided templates without any problems.

After selecting a template, the program worksheet will have a root section of the map called “Central Section”. To rename it, you need to double-click on it. The name will be highlighted and you can change the name. I'll call it "For example".

All sections with subsections are renamed in the same way.

To add branches in the form of subsections, you need to double-click in the empty area. A block called “Floating Section” will be added. But here's one note. There may be no connections between blocks if they are far from each other.

As we can see, there is no connection (connection) between them. If we move the floating section a little closer to the center section, a connection appears.

The program itself determines which section the subsection will be linked to. She chooses the shortest path. Whichever section is closer to that is the subject of the subsection. This is how you need to connect all the blocks in the program. Simply drag all the blocks with the mouse and connect them together.

This may seem difficult. But everything couldn’t be simpler. See for yourself.

Having completed simple machinations, I created 3 more subsections and added 4 branches in each of them to further demonstrate the possibility of creating mind maps in Xmind.

That’s the whole principle of creating mind maps in this program. It remains only to consider some design aspects in order to give a beautiful look to our information.

To do this, there are 2 panels in the right area of ​​the program:

• A panel with the “Outline” and “Overview” tabs, in which we can see the hierarchy of sections in the created mind map, and navigate the map accordingly;

• A panel with the “Properties” and “Markers” tabs, where we can customize the appearance and structure of the mind map.

Everything in the tab is quite simple. Registration is carried out as follows. First, we select the desired element in the map, then go to the “Properties” tab and put what we want there. Change the rift, size, frame and fill color of the section. This is all clear and I see no point in explaining.

The only interesting thing is the “Structure” item, which determines the location of sections and subsections in the mind map.

Each time we can make mind maps of different structure so that there is variety. This point is worth taking into account.

The marker tab should also be used for decoration. Using them, you can give a sequence of actions in the map and show the progress of tasks. For example, I outlined such a plan using markers.

After creating a map, you need to export it in order to have a ready-made file on your computer. This is done through the "File - Export" menu.

After this, an image of the mind map will appear on your computer, which you can give to your friends or upload to the website. Well, or just use it for your needs.

I told and showed you all the main points about this program. Absolutely nothing is difficult. We created sections - connected them together - designed them.

Now you can move on to the second software, which can be safely called “monster intelligence cards”.

Mind Manager

I didn't just call her a monster. After all, it is a market leader in its functionality. And the price is scary - about 400 euros for the regular version of the program. There is a 30-day free version of the program that can be downloaded Here.

The cost of the program is simply prohibitive and there is no point in purchasing it just for the preparation of mind maps.

If intelligence maps are a tool that you cannot do without and all your activities (structuring information, making plans, preparing, and so on) are based on them, then think about purchasing software. Spend once and use smart cards to their fullest, as you have never used them before.

In general, even if you do not purchase MindManager, I still recommend installing it and using it for 30 days. In addition, I will now explain the main points in working with it. You can make yourself a bunch of mind maps.

I’ll duplicate it here again link to download the program from the official website. You can download this tool from it, or from any other resource. There are a sea of ​​sites in RuNet where it is located. You just need to enter data to download on the official website. Yes, and you may find some broken version (at your own peril and risk), which will allow you to use it without restrictions.

Now, perhaps, let's launch the program and create a mind map.

By the way, what else is special about the program, why did I call it a monster? Yes, it eats up computer resources. Even on my powerful laptop, it gets a little slow from time to time.

When you first start the program, there will be a welcome window. It is advisable to put a checkbox in the lower area of ​​the program so that it is no longer displayed, since it will be annoying if you use the software frequently.

This area will no longer be an eyesore for us.

Let's start creating a mind map right away. This is done through the “File - new” menu and, as always, there are 2 creation options:

1. A blank sheet, that is, creation from scratch;
2. Select from a ready-made template.

Select an empty template.

After creating an empty sheet, immediately, as in all previous cases, there will be a root section (Central topic), which can be renamed by double-clicking on it.

Adding subsections is done in the same way as in Xmind, by double-clicking on an empty area. Only the blocks will be automatically linked to the central topic. I will create 4 sections.

I won't rename anything. If necessary, do it yourself.

To add branches of a lower level, that is, to subsections, you should already use the panel in the upper area of ​​​​Mindmanager by clicking on the “Subtopic” icon.

To do this, we must be active on the section to which we want to add a subsection. Here's what I created as an example using this button.

In this way we can create a hierarchy of probably an infinite number of levels.

A useful feature is adding notes to sections and subsections. This is necessary if you are doing a short outline of something. You need to write the main idea, some spontaneous ideas, and so on. Keep it simple. On the “Insert” tab, select the “Notes” function, having previously made the desired section active, and enter a note. After that, it will be available by clicking on the icon next to the topic.

Here you can make some topic of active links to a site or a folder on your computer.

Pictures are also added here. You can choose from the program library or upload your own.

• The first item is to upload a picture from a computer;
• The second is for inserting from the program library, which will be available in the right area of ​​the program.

Icons (markers) are also located here.

On the next tab "Design" we can customize the appearance of the mind map. Starting from the background of the sheet, ending with the lines of connections between sections.

The only problem can be the lack of basic knowledge of English. But from the pictures everything is intuitively clear what each button does. Particularly interesting, as in the previous program, is the structure display setting. It is available under the "Growth" button.

The same display settings are available from the context menu of any topic.

Each tab has specific settings for each part of the topic. The structure, line type and thickness, the shape of the topic and its fill - all this is in the tabs.

It is also worth mentioning the designation of topics to prioritize between them and indicate progress on each item (if this is a plan). This is done on the "Home" tab.

I reviewed the main functions of the program. Now you know how to create a mind map, design it, and optionally have the concept of setting progress and priorities using the appropriate points for the necessary tasks. If you make any plans using mind maps, then use this tool.

The last step is to learn how to export mind maps to the final file. This can be done easily through the "File - Save as" menu. Next, simply select the save location, format and enter the file name.

If you just need to create a mind map for some purposes, then the things described in 2 articles are quite enough. If you need a full-fledged technique that will become your assistant in the video of this tool, then you need to be able to use the MindManager program on your own.

In the near future, I will start working on a full-fledged course that will be dedicated to mind maps. I will analyze all the capabilities of the main programs provided in this article, as well as similar analogues. Not only the main functions will be considered, but also an example of full-fledged task planning using this tool. I will show you everything and tell you in great detail.

I don’t really want to say goodbye to you, but I have to. The article was large and informative. Imagine if I combined the previous and this article together. This would be the longest guide to creating mind maps on the Internet.

In conclusion, I would like to hear your opinion about intelligence cards in general. Maybe you use some other programs and services? If so, write in the comments. We will review your tools in new materials.

All friends! Goodbye!

Best regards, Konstantin Khmelev!

A mind map (also known as a mind map, thought map and mental map) is an analytical tool that is used if you need to find the most effective solution to a problem. Mind maps can be used for a variety of purposes: to generate ideas, prepare for presentations, organize and conduct various events, take notes on lectures, memorize large amounts of information, plan your work day, the progress of work on a project or free time, and much, much more.

Radiant Thinking

Tony Buzan: “By studying the structure of the brain, I discovered what I had been so persistently looking for. I was inspired by the fact that the human brain is made up of approximately 100 billion cells, each of which contributes to the thought process. The structure of neurons could not but cause admiration: processes extend from the center of the cell in all directions, resembling a branched tree. It occurred to me that using a diagram based on this model, it was possible to create a universal thinking tool. This became the starting point for the development of the theory of radiant thinking, which ultimately led to the creation of the technique of constructing mind maps."

In short, a mind map is a complex diagram that copies the tree structure of a neuron and is built on the basis of associations. However, since its inception in the mid-1960s, mind mapping has proven to be not only an excellent way to keep records, but also an effective thinking tool. The theory has developed rapidly and has found application in a variety of areas - from stimulating creative thinking to improving memory and fighting dementia.

Stages of creating a mind map

A good mind map has three main components.

1. A central image that conveys the topic (subject) of study.

So, if you need a mind map to plan a project, you can place an image of a stationery folder in the center. At the same time, you do not need any special artistic skills.

2. Thick main branches extending from the central image.

These branches represent key topics relevant to the subject matter being studied. Each branch should have its own color. In turn, the main branches are divided into “shoots” of the second and third levels, which represent subtopics.

3. A single keyword or image on each branch.

So…

Step 1

Place a piece of paper horizontally in front of you (as if you were deciding to draw a landscape). In the center, use at least three different colors to depict the subject you want to study. In our example, these are the plays of William Shakespeare. If you don't want to draw a portrait of a great poet, draw a pen and ink or any other symbol. The central image stimulates the imagination and evokes associations. If you need to place a word in the center, let it look three-dimensional and be accompanied by an image.

Step 2

Choose a color and draw a thick branch extending from the center image, like a branch from a tree trunk. Give the branch a natural curve, as this is visually more attractive to the brain and will increase the likelihood of remembering information on that branch. Paint over the branch. Its thickness symbolizes the importance of this association in the hierarchy of the mind map.

Step 3

Label the branch with one word or a capital letter. In our example, the mind map is dedicated to the plays of Shakespeare, which means that the first branch could be called “COMEDY”, “TRAGEDY” or “HISTORY”. Instead of a word, you can draw a comedian's mask, a dagger or a crown.

Step 4

Draw secondary branches extending from the main one. Then the branches of the third level, extending from the second. Label each branch with one word, or a symbol, or a combination of both. Each character must have its own branch. Take your time: leave a few branches empty, this stimulates the brain to come up with something to fill them with.

Step 5

Choose a different color and draw the next main branch extending from the center image. (Many beginners find it easier to move clockwise around the center image, but you can do whatever works for you.) As before, draw the second- and third-order branches and label each one. Add a few more main branches to make a total of five or six.

Step 6

Now that you have a structure of main branches, you can freely move throughout the mind map from branch to branch, fill in the gaps and add new additional branches as associations arise.

Step 7

If desired, you can add arrows, connecting lines, and links between the main branches to emphasize the relationships between them. Voila - you've created your first mind map!

Go ahead

You can continue to work on the example given and expand the mind map to include, for example:

All 37 of Shakespeare's plays,

His sonnets and poems

As well as basic facts relating to his life and historical era.

Having memorized the information presented on the map, you will know many facts about the life and work of the great poet and, on occasion, you will be able to show off this knowledge. Because mind mapping involves both hemispheres of the brain, the technique is multifunctional and applies to all cognitive functions, including memory, creative thinking, learning, and all forms of thinking. This is one of the reasons why this technique is called the “Swiss army knife of the brain.”

Due to the specifics of my activity, I constantly monitor the emergence and development of tools like construction techniques. Naturally, I also keep an eye on the software that implements the techniques. It seemed to me that I knew all these programs. But iMind Map really surprised me. Firstly, because I didn’t even notice the elephant. Secondly, because the program is much better than its analogues precisely from the point of view of stimulating thinking.

However, it is not surprising - the program was made and is under the patronage of the founder of this technique, Tony Buzan. Until now, I have used the most advanced and popular solution - Mind Manager from Mindjet. I continue to use it when I need to create structure. But if I need to find a solution or think, iMind Map is what I need. What's so special about this program?

The method of constructing mind maps is based on visualization and structuring of thinking. This means how the map looks is critical. Any mind map is a tree. A tree has a trunk and branches extending from it. The further from the trunk, the thinner the branches become - this simple visualization principle allows you to display the train of thoughts in the correct order.

Each branch is a separate direction or thought that you develop. The thinner the branch section, the more new, fresh, or detailed it is in relation to the main idea.

By default, all main branches of the tree have different colors. This is also important and allows you to separate one thought and the course of its development from another, while maintaining the overall structure. The color and shape of the branches can be changed at your discretion.

In principle, branches are very convenient to work with. They can be dragged, stretched, and their shape can be changed. Two drawing modes determine how the branch will be drawn: automatically or freehand. By drawing by hand, you can give the branch any shape. In addition, you can even change the design of the branch itself. For example, make it in the form of a road or an arrow. Visualization of a branch - visualization of thought.

Branches can also be of two types: simple (linear) and rectangular. In the first option, the text is located on the branch itself. In the second case, the text is inside a rectangle. Representing a branch as a rectangle is very useful for displaying key thoughts and comments.

The branches can be connected to each other; there are separate arrows for this.

Images can be used to enhance visualization. They can be placed on the branch itself, designated as the branch's base point, or simply placed anywhere. In addition to pictures, branches can be marked with icons, the choice of which is quite large in iMind Map. By the way, in addition to adding files with pictures, you can sketch an image and immediately add it to the map. Simply an invaluable function for brainstorming.

What's super cool is that iMind Map allows you to add flowcharts directly to your mind map. I really miss this in MindManager. Each element of the diagram can be connected to any element of the entire map.

The automatic tidying function works very well. One click, and the map takes on the optimal appearance in terms of display and placement of elements. So you don't have to worry about making a mess when working with the card.

We should also talk about the ways of presenting the map.

Project type

Like many other mind mapping software, iMind Map allows you to turn branches into tasks. And the entire map represents a single project. To make it more convenient to work with the map from a project management point of view, a separate view is provided. In this case, the branches of the map are presented in the form of a list indicating deadlines, duration and percentage of completion.

By the way, iMind Map works with the task management service Drop Task. I wouldn’t say that the type of project itself will bring much benefit, but running small projects in this mode is quite possible. But in conjunction with Drop Task it’s a completely different matter. I highly recommend paying attention to the service itself and trying it in conjunction with iMind Map. Everything looks unusual, very, very cool. But this probably deserves a separate article.

3D map

A very unusual presentation mode. The program converts your map into a three-dimensional image that you can rotate as you wish. It would seem that it is just a visual feature. But no. The presentation is extremely convenient for conducting and focusing attention on a particular branch, thought, or task. Unusual, interesting, adds zest - in a word, I liked it.

Text mode

In this mode, the mind map is presented in the form of structured text. Sub-items can be collapsed and expanded. This view, for example, is very convenient for working with text alignment. The number of nested sub-items is infinite. You can first sketch out the structure of the text in the form of a map with notes on the main theses and ideas, and then switch to text mode and already. Pictures and icons are also displayed in this view. This type is also very convenient for preparing for a presentation and working with abstracts.

Presentation mode

Such a spectacular and effective presentation mode is not available in any analogue program. The mind map is a whole story. iMind Map in presentation mode allows you to tell this story in the way and order you choose. Before starting the presentation, you can configure the order in which branches are displayed, comments on them, types of transitions from one branch to another, and much more. You can customize key click transitions or set the display time for each branch. You can even loop the presentation so that it is shown constantly - kiosk mode.

The program offers a set of presentation templates, which makes its creation even easier. Scaling, transitions, accents on branches - all this is done in just a couple of clicks. The result is a very high quality product. My rating is five out of five.

Branch order mode

Similar to text mode and represents structured text. But the purpose of this mode is precisely to determine the order of branches. In this mode, you determine the order in which your ideas will be presented on the map and in. That is, you can do this both in map mode, simply dragging branches, and in this mode, changing the levels of branches in the form of text. It's actually very convenient.

Summary and some tips

• The only software that fully complies with the principles of constructing mind maps and visualizing the thinking process.
• Developed with the support of the founder of the technique, Tony Buzan.
• Very convenient work on building and changing a mind map.
• Integration with Drop Task allows you to manage large projects.
• Flexible display and presentation settings.
• Building mind maps turns into a fun process.
• ThinkBuzan offers free online training on mind mapping.
• The program works on different platforms: Windows, Mac OS X, iOS, Android.
• The built-in map display optimization works like magic.
• The best software for preparing presentations based on mind maps.
• Possibility of adding block diagrams to the map.
• Completely in Russian.

Finally

In my opinion, iMind Map is the best mind mapping program. The only program of its kind that stimulates... I highly recommend trying it, fortunately there is a trial version. Recently the program was supplemented with new features and updated to version 8. But more on that next time. That's all I wanted to say. ;)

In my consulting practice, I work with many general and commercial directors, heads of sales departments and managers. A number of successful managers use mental maps, or mindmaps, in their work to solve everyday business problems: writing sales scripts, instructions for staff, sales and production planning, competitor analysis, creating checklists, regulations for planning meetings and meetings, SWOT analysis, descriptions of business processes, organizational structures, functional models, etc. All these production mechanisms are described in the pages of this book.

Here you will find practical examples of solving business problems using mind maps. By implementing and developing these solutions for your business, you will be able to rise to a higher level of organizing your commercial activities, increase sales, set up work with personnel, optimize and regulate business processes.

The book will be useful both to people who have been actively using mind maps in their practice for a long time, and to beginners for taking their business to a qualitatively new level.

Book:

We have already determined in previous chapters that business success is impossible without planning, regardless of the scale of the activity.

Another planning document is a business plan. It is a structured document containing the company's strategy, its goals and ways to achieve them, the estimated amount of resources required for this, the company's place in the market and a description of the fundamental elements influencing its success. For example, competitive advantages, sales markets, marketing plan, etc. A business plan is designed to show the real chances of realizing a business idea and provide answers to the questions:

1. Is the business profitable?

2. If so, how much?

3. How soon will the investment in it pay off? Most often, drawing up a business plan is associated

with starting a business, i.e. a startup. However, it is also formed by already functioning companies: to choose a development strategy or before starting a large project. It is intended for two user groups:

1. Internal users are people who are directly related to the company. For example, a business plan is very important at the stage of inception of a business idea. It is during its preparation that a startup will be able to assess the viability of the idea, understand its product, foresee the prospects for introduction to the market, and calculate the amount of investment required to start.

A business plan is also important for the founders of an already created and operating company. For example, on the eve of large-scale reforms or geopolitical changes. He is able to inform the owners about the state of affairs in the company so that they can assess their potential and correctly choose the trajectory of the company’s further development in a changing economy.

2. External users are persons who are not currently associated with the company, but plan to take part in its activities in one way or another.

First of all, external users interested in the business plan include investors and creditors. People who are ready to invest money in your business need to know the state of affairs in the company, see their benefits from participating in the project, evaluate the payback period and be prepared for potential risks. After all, they want to participate exclusively in promising projects.

The main task of a business plan drawn up for external users is to prove the attractiveness and promise of your idea, to awaken interest in it and a desire to participate in its implementation.

A business plan is a macro planning document for a company. It includes the marketing plan, risk management, SWOT analysis, and strategic planning discussed in this book. That is, it evaluates the business comprehensively and in the interrelation of all elements. By drawing up a business plan, you:

1. Avoid throwing money away.

One of the structural sections of a business plan is a financial plan. It is he who will assess the profitability of a business or project and show whether it is worth investing money and effort into this business.

2. Choose the best vector for the company's development. Perhaps, when drawing up a business plan, you will see that the idea is not viable.

It is much better to understand this at the planning stage than during the implementation process. This will allow you to switch to another idea without loss. In addition, the business plan, among other things, identifies possible risks. And he who is forewarned is forearmed. You can prepare for them in advance or find ways around them.

3. You will better understand your business and product, competitive advantages and weaknesses, development opportunities and potential risks, business profitability, etc.

Before you start drawing up a business plan in the format of a mental map, I suggest you familiarize yourself with the most essential rules for its formation:

1. Be concise.

In the future, you will see that the business plan includes 11 sections. Some of them, for example a marketing plan, a financial plan and others, are quite massive in information. However, a business plan should not be a volume of information. The most optimal volume is 30 sheets of printed text without attachments.

To develop a high-quality and reliable business plan, you need to turn to various statistical data, expert opinion and other evaluative and forecasting sources. These sources must be reliable, and information taken from them used in the plan must be referenced.

3. Reflect only the most important and relevant information in your business plan.

As already mentioned, a business plan should be quite concise, but at the same time complete, informative, interesting and justified.

4. Create a business plan with your team.

One person cannot have a perfect understanding of all areas of activity. Therefore, if you have such an opportunity, involve specialists in your work (marketers, consultants, financiers) who will help you draw up the most promising and accurate plan.

So, let's draw up a business plan in mental maps.

1. Core mental map when drawing up a business plan - this is a business plan with the time frame for which it is drawn up. As a rule, a business plan is written for 3–5 years, adjusting it annually based on the current economic situation and the state of affairs in the company.

2. Level 1– these are the sections that make up a business plan. There is no strict, fixed, uniform standard revealing the content of a business plan. There are a number of points that it must necessarily reflect. However, I advise you to tailor your business plan to the specific person for whom it is intended. As a result, the structure of the plan may vary slightly. I will give an example of a standard business plan, including 11 sections:

Title page;

Introduction;

Products & Services;

Marketing plan;

Production (commercial) plan;

Organization and management;

Capital and legal form of the company;

Risk assessment;

Financial plan;

Applications.

It is these sections, located radially around the core, that will form the first level of the mental map.

Rice. 67.Business plan in a mental map (level 1)

3. Level 2– this is the structure of each section of the first level. For example, the Title Page and Introduction do not have any structure. These are single-level map branches. However, this is typical for other sections.

The executive summary should cover the following points: objectives, product, financial results, expected sales, investment volume, gross profit, payback period, etc.